Segmented french press

ABSTRACT

The present system relates a French Press that comprises a carafe with a removable bottom member. The bottom member is threaded onto the man body of the carafe and forms a watertight seal during use of the carafe. During the preparation of the coffee using the French Press, normal operation is possible. The spend solids collect naturally in the bottom member during use, and are in fact urged there by depression of the plunger during operation. After use, the bottom member can be easily removed from the main body of the carafe and the spent solids can be easily cleaned from the bottom member, along with any stray spent solids that might have remained in the main body of the carafe.

BACKGROUND OF THE SYSTEM

There are a number of methods and apparatuses for the preparation ofcoffee and tea drinks. One method is the use of a so called “FrenchPress.” The French Press, also referred to as a press pot, plunger,coffee press, cafetiere, and the like, comprises a carafe for holdingliquid, with a lid and a plunger. Coffee grounds/tea is placed into thecarafe, which is then filled with hot water. The lid contains theplunger, which includes a wire mesh, circular spring, or other filterlike mechanism. With the lid on the plunger, it is pressed toward thebottom of the carafe to separate the coffee grounds/tea from the infusedliquid which is intended for consumption. While pouring the infusedliquid, the plunger stays in place to prevent the grounds/tea from alsoleaving the carafe.

After preparation and the infused liquid is poured out, the lid andplunger are removed, and the carafe is then cleaned of the used coffeegrounds/tea in anticipation of the next use. However, the cleaning ofthe spent solids is difficult. The spent solids are either scooped outby hand or with a device such as a spoon, or forcibly ejected by rappingthe carafe on a hard surface while upside down, and the carafe is thenwiped with sponge or cloth or placed into the dishwasher to remove allof the spent solids and oil residue of the liquid. This is an extremelymessy process where the spent solids are often stuck in the press andmay involve quite a bit of effort to fully clean the carafe for the nextuse.

SUMMARY

The present system provides a French Press that comprises a carafe witha removable bottom member. The bottom member is removably attached, forexample, with a threaded or snap connection, to the main body of thecarafe and forms a liquid tight seal during use of the carafe. Duringthe preparation of the coffee using the French Press, normal operationis possible. The coffee grounds/tea leaves are urged into the bottommember by depression of the plunger. After the infused liquid has beenremoved, the bottom member can be easily removed from the main body ofthe carafe and the spent solids can be easily cleaned from the bottommember. Not only is the bottom member easier to clean because of itsshallow depth, but the carafe itself is easier to clean because it canbe accessed from either the top or bottom of the carafe, instead ofrinsed and tipped as with prior art systems.

In addition, the present disclosure relates to a brewing device. Thebrewing device includes a hollow main body having an open top end, anopen bottom end, and an outer wall extending from the top end to thebottom end, a plunger assembly disposed within the main body andmoveably disposed between the open top end and the open bottom end ofthe main body, an optional handle assembly extending from the outer wallof the main body, and a bottom member that is removably attached to themain body at the open bottom end. The plunger assembly includes a hollowshaft having an open top end, an annular interior surface that extendsthrough the top end of the shaft, a plunger plate attached to a bottomend of the shaft, and a plunger head attached to the top end of theshaft. The plunger head and the annular interior surface of the hollowshaft are sized and shaped to receive a thermometer having a headportion and stem portion extending from the head portion such that whenthe stem portion of the thermometer is inserted into the shaft, the headportion of the thermometer is positioned against the plunger head of theplunger assembly. In other embodiments, the thermometer could beremovably attached to another portion of the carafe, such as in thehandle, on the lid, on the bottom member, or on the outer surface of thecarafe. The optional handle assembly includes an elongate body having anupper end, a lower end opposite the upper end, and an interiorcompartment located between the upper end and the lower end, where theinterior compartment is sized and shaped to house a removabletimekeeper. The bottom member includes an annular interior wall and abladder that extends outwardly from a center axis to the annularinterior wall, the bladder being movable to aid in the removal of thespent solids from the bottom member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference ismade to the following detailed description of an embodiment consideredin conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A illustrates an assembled embodiment of the French Press;

FIG. 1B illustrates an exploded view of the French Press of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2A illustrates an exploded view of a second embodiment of a FrenchPress with an insulated double wall carafe;

FIG. 2B illustrates a bilateral cross-sectional view of the French Pressshown in FIG. 2A taken along line 2-2 and looking in the direction ofthe arrow;

FIG. 3A illustrates a perspective view of a third embodiment of a FrenchPress;

FIG. 3B illustrates a bilateral cross-sectional view of the French Pressshown in FIG. 3A taken along line 3-3 and looking in the direction ofthe arrow;

FIG. 4A illustrates an enlarged partial view of area A-A of FIG. 3Bshowing the bottom member of the French Press in an expanded position;and

FIG. 4B illustrates the view of FIG. 4A showing the bottom member in acompressed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following disclosure is presented to provide an illustration of thegeneral principles of the present invention and is not meant to limit,in any way, the inventive concepts contained herein. Moreover, theparticular features described in this section can be used in combinationwith the other described features in each of the multitude of possiblepermutations and combinations contained herein.

All terms defined herein should be afforded their broadest possibleinterpretation, including any implied meanings as dictated by a readingof the specification as well as any words that a person having skill inthe art and/or a dictionary, treatise, or similar authority would assignparticular meaning. Further, it should be noted that, as recited in thespecification and in the claims appended hereto, the singular forms “a,”“an,” and “the” include the plural referents unless otherwise stated.Additionally, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” when used hereinspecify that certain features are present in that embodiment, but shouldnot be interpreted to preclude the presence or addition of additionalfeatures, components, operations, and/or groups thereof.

The following disclosure is intended to be read in connection with theaccompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entirewritten description of the invention. The drawing figures are notnecessarily to scale and certain features of the invention may be shownexaggerated in scale or in somewhat schematic form in the interest ofclarity and conciseness. In this description, relative terms such as“horizontal,” “vertical,” “up,” “down,” “top,” “bottom,” as well asderivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,”etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then describedor as shown in the drawing figure under discussion. These relative termsare for convenience of description and normally are not intended torequire a particular orientation. Terms including “inwardly” versus“outwardly,” “longitudinal” versus “lateral” and the like are to beinterpreted relative to one another or relative to an axis ofelongation, or an axis or center of rotation, as appropriate. Termsconcerning attachments, coupling and the like, such as “connected” and“interconnected,” refer to a relationship wherein structures are securedor attached to one another either directly or indirectly throughintervening structures, as well as both moveable or rigid attachments orrelationships, unless expressly described otherwise, and includes termssuch as “directly” coupled, secured, etc. The term “operatively coupled”is such an attachment, coupling, or connection that allows the pertinentstructures to operate as intended by virtue of that relationship.

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate an assembled view and an exploded view of anembodiment of the device. The device 100 includes a main body 101, abottom member 102, a handle assembly 103, a lid 104 and plunger assembly105. The main body 101 is substantially cylindrical, hollow, and open ontop and bottom. The main body may include a pour spout 106 to aid inpouring the liquid from the main body 101. In one embodiment the mainbody 101 is composed of glass. However, the main body may be composed ofany suitable material for providing, with the bottom member, a receiverfor fluids such as coffee.

The device 100 includes a bottom member 102 that may be removablyattached to the main body 101. In one embodiment, the bottom member 102is removably attached by matching threads on the interior of the bottommember 102 (not shown in FIG. 1B) and threads 108 on the exterior of thebottom portion of main body 101 (see FIG. 1B). Although shown asremovably coupled via threads for a screw on operation, the bottommember may also be removably coupled via other means, such as acompression fit, keyed or registered clips or lips for locking thebottom member in place, or any other suitable coupling means.

During operation, the bottom member should provide a substantiallyfluid-tight seal so that coffee is not compressed through the boundarybetween the bottom member and the main body. The bottom member may becomposed of plastic, metal, or glass as desired.

The device 100 includes a lid 104 through which a plunger assembly 105is inserted. Typically, the plunger and lid assembly are coupledtogether and work as a unit. During operation, the lid is pressed down,thereby pushing the plunger plate 110 down toward the bottom of the mainbody 101. The lid 104 engages the top opening of main body 101 to bothretain the liquid in the device 100 during operation to retain heatafter brewing, and to support the plunger assembly 105 in place to keepgrounds below the filter assembly. The lid 104 may be metal or plasticas desired.

The plunger assembly 105 comprises a shaft 109 coupled to a plungerplate 110. The plunger plate 110 typically has openings formed in theface thereof and covered by a wire mesh or screen. The screen acts as afilter to allow fluid to pass there-through while preventing the groundsfrom pass through. Often a spring, such as spring 111 is disposedcircumferentially around the outer edge of the plunger plate 110 to urgethe plunger plate 110 to a correct position and provide appropriateforce between the plunger plate and sidewall of the main body to preventgrounds from entering the liquid chamber via the gap between the plungerbody and side wall. The main body 101 is positioned such that the shaft109 is coaxial with the cylinder of the main body 101.

The plunger assembly is typically metal but may be a combination ofmetal or plastic or any materials that provide a method of filtering thefluid from the grounds during operation.

A handle assembly 103 is used to lift the device for pouring the brewedcoffee into a cup or other container. The handle assembly 103 maycomprise a handle 112 coupled to an upper band 113 and lower band 114.The bands 113, 114 may encircle the main body 101, with a ridge orabutment 107 formed on the main body 101 to seat the handle assembly andprevent movement of the handle assembly during use. Alternatively, thehandle 112 can be affixed directly to the main body 101 or may be formedas part of the main body 101 as desired.

As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the bottom member is configured such thatit's threads are on the inside surface so that it mates with the outsidethreads of the main body 101. However, the device may be configured sothat the threads on the bottom member are on the outside surface and thethreads on the main body 101 are on the inside surface without departingfrom the scope and spirit of the device.

FIGS. 2A-4B illustrate additional embodiments of the device 100discussed above and illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B. The elementsillustrated in FIGS. 2A-4B, which correspond to the elements describedabove with respect to the device illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, havebeen designated by corresponding reference numbers increased by onehundred. Any element referenced below and identified in the attacheddrawings should be assumed as having the same or similar structure andfunction as its corresponding element shown in previous figures, exceptwhere specifically indicated otherwise below.

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate another embodiment of the device that showsan insulated carafe, a different bottom member, different handleconfiguration and the like. It should be understood that the device maybe configured with any, some, or all of these features without departingfrom the scope and spirit of the device.

The device 200 implements an insulated carafe comprising a main body 201having an outer wall 215 and an inner wall 216 with an evacuated space217 there-between to provide temperature insulation. Similarly, thebottom member 202 is double walled and includes an evacuated space 218to provide insulation. In one embodiment, the bottom member 202 may besingle walled but made of a thermal insulating material to providetemperature insulation for the liquid contained in the device duringuse.

The device 200 includes a lid 204 and plunger assembly 205 with shaft209 and plunger plate 210. As described above, the plunger plate 210includes openings therein to allow fluid flow while inhibiting thepassage of coffee grounds. A wire spring 211 encircling the plungerplate 210 provides stability during use.

A handle 212 may be formed integrally with the main body 201.Alternatively, a handle assembly as illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B maybe used with the embodiment of FIGS. 2A and 2B.

The bottom member 202 of this embodiment is coupled to the main body 201during use by a registered pressure fit using a gasket to aid in makingthe seal fluid-tight. The main body 201 has a stepped shoulder 219 thatengages an opposite stepped shoulder 220 on bottom member 202. A gasket221, which may be rubber, plastic, or some other flexible material, isplaced on the upfacing step of the opposite stepped shoulder 220 of thebottom member 202. The down projecting portion of the stepped shoulder219 of main body 201 engages and compresses the gasket 221 during use,providing a suitable fluid seal between the members during use.

In one embodiment, the exposed portion of the stepped shoulder 219 isthreaded, and the upper portion of the opposite stepped shoulder 220 ofthe bottom member 202 is also threaded for a screw on attachmentmechanism, with or without the gasket 221.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 2A and 2B, a ring member 222 provides furtherstabilization of the plunger shaft to ensure the plunger plate remainsperpendicular to the inner wall 216.

In operation, the plunger assembly 205 is such that the plunger plate210 descends to the approximate point of intersection between the bottommember 202 and the main body 201. After use, the spent grounds are thuscaptured in the bottom member 202 so that when it is decoupled from themain body 201, all of the spent grounds are found in the bottom member202 and can be disposed of quite easily. Any spent grounds that may haveseeped through the filter mechanism (i.e., the spring 211) on theplunger plate 210 can be easily rinsed away from the interior of themain body 201.

FIGS. 3A-4B illustrate a third embodiment of a French Press device 300.Referring now to FIG. 3B, the device 300 includes a modified handleassembly 303 having a handle 312 with an elongate body that has an upperend 312 a and a lower end 312 b. The handle 312 is affixed to the outerwall 315 of the main body 301 by an upper brace 323 proximate to theupper end 312 a and a lower brace 324 proximate to the lower end 312 b.The handle 312 includes an interior compartment 325 between the upperend 312 a and the lower end 312 b that houses a removable timekeeper326, such as a clock or an hourglass, which may be used to assist a userin measuring the time needed to brew liquid inside the device 300. Theinterior compartment 325 is sized and shaped to house the entirety ofthe timekeeper 326 such that no portion of the timekeeper 326 extendsbeyond the radial circumference of the handle 312 when the timekeeper326 is inserted into the interior compartment 325. In one embodiment,the interior compartment 325 is accessed via a compartment opening 326 alocated on the elongate body of the handle 312 between the upper end 312a and the lower end 312 b.

In one embodiment, the timekeeper 326 is sized and shaped to create afriction fit within the interior compartment 325 so that the timekeeper326 does not fall out of the interior compartment 325 when the device300 is in use. In one embodiment, the interior compartment 325 includesone or more detents (not shown) that urge the timekeeper 326 toward theinside of the interior compartment 325. In another embodiment, thetimekeeper 326 includes one or more detents (not shown) that urge thetimekeeper 326 toward the inside of the interior compartment 325.

Still referring to FIG. 3B, the device 300 includes a plunger assembly305 that is configured to house a thermometer 327 having a head portion328 and a stem portion 329 extending downwardly from the head portion328. The thermometer 327 may be used by a user to test the temperatureof the liquid to be placed inside the device 300 prior to brewing, andthe plunger assembly 305 operates as a holster for the thermometer 327when the thermometer 327 is not in use.

More particularly, the plunger assembly 305 includes a hollow shaft 309that is connected to a plunger plate 310 on the bottom end of the shaft309 and a plunger head 330 on the opposing top end of the shaft 309. Theshaft 309 of the plunger assembly 305 is in slideable engagement withthe lid 304, with the plunger plate 310 located within the main body 301under the lid 304 and the plunger head 330 located above the lid 304.The shaft 309 has an annular interior surface 331 that extends upwardlythrough the plunger head 330 to the top end of the shaft 309 and issized and shaped to receive the stem portion 329 of the thermometer 327.The annular interior surface 331 has a length that is greater than orequal to the length of the stem portion 329 of the thermometer 327 sothat when the thermometer 327 is inserted into the plunger assembly 305,the stem portion 329 does not make contact with the plunger plate 310and the head portion 328 of the thermometer 327 is able to rest on topof the plunger head 330 without exerting stress on the bottom end of thestem portion 329.

The plunger head 330 includes a head seat 332 that extends radiallyoutwardly from the top of the annular interior surface 331 of the shaft309 to an outer head wall 333 and provides a surface on which the headportion 328 of the thermometer 327 may rest when the thermometer 327 isinserted into the shaft 309. The outer head wall 333 extends downwardlyfrom the head seat 332 to the lid 304 and upwardly from the head seat332 to an outer head rim 334. In one embodiment, the outer head wall 333is sized and shaped to correspond with the perimeter of the head portion328 of the thermometer 327 such that when the head portion 328 of thethermometer 327 rests on the head seat 332, the outer head wall 333abuts and is contiguous with the perimeter of the head portion 328. Inaddition, the outer head rim 334 is positioned above the head seat 332by a distance approximately equal to the thickness of the head portion328 of the thermometer 327. This shaping of the outer head rim 334allows for it to be flush with the top surface of the head portion 328of the thermometer 327 when the head portion 328 rests upon the headseat 332. In one embodiment, the plunger head 330 includes a fingerrecess 335 carved out of one side of the outer head wall that is sizedand shaped to enable a user to position a finger underneath the headportion 328 of the thermometer 327 and lift the thermometer 327 out ofthe plunger assembly 305.

Referring now to FIGS. 3B, 4A, and 4B, the bottom member 302 includes athreaded section 336 located toward the top of the bottom member 302 anda reservoir section 337 located below the threaded section 336. Thereservoir section 337 includes an annular interior wall 338 having anupper edge 339 and a lower edge 340, and a bladder 341 attached to theannular interior wall 338. The annular interior wall 338 is sized andshaped to correspond to the inner wall 316 of the main body 301 suchthat when the threaded section 336 is attached to the bottom end of themain body 301, the inner wall 316 of the main body 301 and the annularinterior wall 338 of the bottom member 302 are contiguous.

The bladder 341 is made of a flexible, resilient, water impermeablematerial, such as rubber, and includes a bladder floor 342 that islaterally aligned with the lower edge 340 and extends radially outwardlyfrom the center axis of the bottom member 302 toward the annularinterior wall 338 to an annular bladder edge 343. The bladder 341 alsoincludes an annular bladder wall 344 that extends upwardly from theannular bladder edge 343 of the bladder floor 342 to an annular bladderseam 345, where the annular bladder wall 344 is affixed to the annularinterior wall 338 proximate to the upper edge 339. In one embodiment,the bladder floor 342 includes an annular bladder ridge 346 formed inthe bladder floor 342 proximate to the annular bladder edge 343 thatprotrudes upwardly from the bladder floor 342 toward the top of thebottom member. The annular bladder ridge 346 is coaxially aligned withthe center axis of the bottom member 302 and provides structural supportfor the bladder floor 342 to maintain a flat, circular shape.

The bladder 341 provides a flexible bottom surface for the bottom member302 that can be compressed upwardly to ease cleaning of spent brewingsolids from the bottom member after brewing. FIG. 4A shows the bladder341 in an expanded position, while FIG. 48 shows the bladder in acompressed position. As seen in FIG. 4A, when the bladder 341 is in anexpanded position, the bladder floor 342 is positioned proximate to thelower edge 340 and the shape of the annular bladder wall 344 is flat,smooth, and substantially corresponding to the shape of the annularinterior wall 338. This is the shape the bladder 341 takes when thedevice 300 is in use. As seen in FIG. 4B, when the bladder 341 is in acompressed position, the bladder floor 342 is positioned proximate tothe upper edge 339 of the annular interior wall 338, and the annularbladder wall 344 is folded over itself. This shape taken by the bladder341 allows for the easy removal of spent brewing solids that havecollected in the reservoir section 337 of the bottom member 302. In oneembodiment, the bladder floor 342 is laterally aligned with the annularbladder seam 345 when the bladder 341 is in its compressed position.

Once the device 300 has been used and emptied of its liquid contents,spent brewing solids gather on the surface of the bladder 341. In suchcircumstances, as seen in FIG. 4B, the bladder floor 342 can becompressed toward the threaded section 336 of the bottom member, causingthe annular bladder wall 344 to fold over itself as the bladder floor342 is moved upwardly. As the bladder floor 342 approaches the upperedge 339 of the annular interior wall 338, the resiliency of the bladder341 urges the bladder floor 342 to its compressed position, creating alaunching effect that propels the spent brewing solids out of the bottommember 302. Also, the compressed position of the bladder 341 facilitatescleaning of the spent brewing solids from the bottom member, as thespent brewing solids are now closer to the threaded section 336 of thebottom member 302 and are easier to reach and clean with a cloth orsponge.

All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended forpedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principlesof the present invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor infurthering the art. As such, they are to be construed as being withoutlimitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions.Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, andembodiments of the invention, as well as specific examples thereof, areintended to encompass both structural and functional equivalentsthereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include bothcurrently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in thefuture, i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function,regardless of structure.

Many variations can be made to the above-described brewing device 300without departing from the present invention. For example, the bladderfloor 342 can have a convex shape that allows spent solids to collecttoward the center axis of the bottom member 302 during and after use ofthe brewing device 300. Such an embodiment would have the annularbladder edge 343 be located along the annular interior wall 338 betweenthe upper edge 339 and the lower edge 340, thereby preventing the convexbladder floor 342 to surpass the bottom surface of the bottom member302.

It is to be understood that the embodiments described herein are merelyexemplary and that a person skilled in the art may make many variationsand modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention. All such variations and modifications are intended to beincluded within the scope of the invention, as defined by the followingclaims.

1.-8. (canceled)
 9. A brewing device comprising: a hollow main bodyhaving an open top end, a closed bottom end, and an outer wall extendingfrom the top end to the bottom end; and a plunger assembly disposedwithin the main body and moveably disposed between the top end of themain body and the bottom end of the main body, the plunger assemblyincluding a hollow shaft having a top end, a bottom end, an annularinterior surface that extends through the top end of the shaft, aplunger plate attached to a bottom end of the shaft, and a plunger headattached to the top end of the shaft; wherein the plunger head and theannular interior surface of the shaft are sized and shaped to receive athermometer having a head portion and stem portion extending from thehead portion such that when the stem portion of the thermometer isinserted into the shaft, the head portion of the thermometer ispositioned against the plunger head of the plunger assembly.
 10. Thebrewing device of claim 9, wherein the annular interior surface of theshaft has a length that is greater than or equal to a length of the stemportion of the thermometer.
 11. The brewing device of claim 9, whereinthe plunger head includes a head seat that extends radially outwardlyfrom the top end of the shaft to an outer head wall, the outer head wallbeing sized and shaped to correspond with the perimeter of the headportion of the thermometer such that when the head portion of thethermometer rests on the head seat, the outer head wall abuts and iscontiguous with a perimeter of the head portion.
 12. The brewing deviceof claim 11, wherein the outer head wall includes an outer head rim thatis positioned above the head seat such that when the head portion of thethermometer rests on the head seat, the outer head rim is flush with atop surface of the head portion of the thermometer. 13.-15. (canceled)16. A brewing device comprising: a hollow main body having an open topend, an open bottom end, and an outer wall extending from the top end tothe bottom end; a plunger assembly disposed within the main body andmoveably disposed between the top end and the bottom end; and a bottommember that is removably attached to the main body at the bottom end,the bottom member including an annular interior wall and a bladder thatextends radially outwardly from a center axis to the annular interiorwall, the bladder being movable from an expanded position to acompressed position.
 17. The brewing device of claim 16, wherein thebottom member and main body together form a contiguous inner wall. 18.The brewing device of claim 16, wherein the bladder includes an annularbladder wall and a bladder floor, the annular bladder wall beingconnected to the bladder floor at an annular bladder edge and extendingradially outwardly from the center axis of the bottom member to theannular bladder edge, the annular bladder wall being affixed to theannular interior wall of the bottom member at an annular bladder seamand extending from the annular bladder seam to the annular bladder edge.19. The brewing device of claim 18, wherein the bladder floor includesan annular bladder ridge formed in the bladder floor and protruding fromthe bladder floor toward a top end of the bottom member.
 20. The brewingdevice of claim 18, wherein when the bladder is in the compressedposition, the bladder floor is positioned proximate to the upper edge ofthe annular interior wall of the bottom member and the annular bladderwall is folded over itself.
 21. The brewing device of claim 20, whereinwhen the bladder is in the compressed position, the bladder floor islaterally aligned with annular bladder seam.
 22. A brewing devicecomprising: a hollow main body having an open top end, an open bottomend, and an outer wall extending from the top end to the bottom end; aplunger assembly disposed within the main body and moveably disposedbetween the open top end and the open bottom end of the main body, theplunger assembly including a hollow shaft having a top end, a bottomend, an annular interior surface that extends through the top end of theshaft, a plunger plate attached to a bottom end of the shaft, and aplunger head attached to the top end of the shaft; a handle assemblyextending from the outer wall of the main body, the handle assemblyincluding an elongate body having an upper end, a lower end opposite theupper end, and an interior compartment located between the upper end andthe lower end, the interior compartment being sized and shaped to housea removable timekeeper; and a bottom member that is removably attachedto the main body at the open bottom end, the bottom member including anannular interior wall and a bladder that extends radially outwardly froma center axis to the annular interior wall, the bladder being movablefrom an expanded position to a compressed position, wherein the plungerhead and the annular interior surface of the shaft are sized and shapedto receive a thermometer having a head portion and stem portionextending from the head portion such that when the stem portion of thethermometer is inserted into the shaft, the head portion of thethermometer is positioned against the plunger head of the plungerassembly.